Advance care planning: The patient perspective

Advance directives ensure that an individual's wishes for health care are honored. Only about one-half of dialysis patients have advance directives, and less than 10% of patients have had discussions about end-of-life care with their physicians. The Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients interviewed patients regarding their experience completing advance directives. Themes identified included a precipitating health care crisis, the experience of decision-making for others, and availability of advance directive information. Patients offered recommendations and best practices for increasing advance directives completion. The Coalition also identified resources to assist with completion of advance directives.